Waiting for a Prince…
In the movie version of Snow White, the beautiful young woman sings what is longed for in every girl’s heart.
Some day my prince will come,
Some day I’ll find my love,
And how thrilling that moment will be,
When the prince of my dreams comes to me…
But how does she find the love of her life? And how does a prince of a man find his love? In the fairy tale, it’s a waiting game for both of them. If you are playing the waiting game right now, be patient. Wait for God’s choice of a date who— by God’s design—might become your mate.
“For you, O LORD, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.” -Psalm 38:15
Q: “If we truly love each other, why should it make a difference if Idate and marry someone not of my same faith?”
Since emotions come and go, passionate love may be here today and gone tomorrow. The divorce courts are full of statistics to verify the impermanence of romantic love. However, unity in marriage is built on common grounds such as . . .
- The same religious traditions
- The same moral values
- The same system of ethics
- The same spiritual foundation
A new house has the best opportunity to endure if it is built on one solid foundation. When you are“equally yoked” with someone of the same faith, you will have a greater sense of unity, cohesiveness, and oneness on which you can build your lives together.
“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” -2 Corinthians 6:14
Key Verse to Memorize
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.” -Psalm 119:9
Key Passage to Read and Reread
Proverbs chapters 1–7
Click here for the PDF version of the complete Dating Resource Guide provided by Hope for the Heart.
The Cost of Sexual Sin…
He had every reason and every opportunity to live an exemplary life. His parents set a positive tone at home. They knew he would be a strong leader. In fact, his extraordinary feats made him famous. Clearly, he had God’s blessing on his life. But in spite of great ability and great advantage, his moral failure proved to be at great cost. This man has continually been remembered for both his immense strength and his immense weakness. How different the life of Samson would have been if only he had maintained his sexual integrity and had avoided the lure that led to his ultimate destruction.
“The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, ‘See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him.’” -Judges 16:5
Myths About Sex
Myth: “All is fair in love and war.”
Truth: The basis of love is sacrifice, not fairness.
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” -1 John 3:16
Myth: “Multiple sex partners give me more experience.”
Truth: Multiple experiences breed comparisons and dissatisfactions.
“Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.” -1 Timothy 5:22
Myth: “As long as I’m not married, I should be able to have sex with whomever I want.”
Truth: The only instance where God blesses two people in a sexual relationship is within a husband and wife marital relationship.
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” -Genesis 2:24
Q: “Is sexual temptation a sin?”
No. Temptation is not a sin, but to entice someone to be tempted is a sin. We are all tempted in different areas. The issue is whether we give in to temptation or not. The Bible says,
“We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” -Hebrews 4:15
Q: “How can I resist giving in to sexual temptation?”
How many times have you found yourself in a situation where, ahead of time, you should have determined how you would respond to temptation? Then, in the heat of the moment, you acted. And later you realized, with regret, that you had made the wrong decision?
Many of your decisions need to be made prior to when they are needed. This involves knowing the end result you desire and then committing yourself to a plan to achieve that desire. In the Bible, Job had such a plan in order to maintain his purity. He made a commitment—a covenant vow before God . . .
“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.” -Job 31:1
Q: “But what if it’s too late?”
You cannot take back sexually what has been given any more than you can take back that which has been spoken. However, that which has been lost—virginity—can be reclaimed. As you have opened your heart to the Lord and as you have begun to desire His best, you can come to know Him as Redeem and Restorer.
You can choose what is called “secondary virginity,” and He will empower you to have victory over the past. God intends your sexuality to be a wonderful present to your future marriage partner. From this point on, save yourself for the one God has saved for you.
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” -Psalm 51:10
Key Verses to Memorize
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” -1 Corinthians 6:19–20